KEY POINTS:
All Whites midfielder Tim Brown's long wait is finally over.
He will kick into the real thing on Sunday when he makes his debut for the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League soccer competition against Newcastle after an extended rehabilitation period following injury.
Describing his seven weeks on the
sidelines and the frustration that went with it as a "misery", the 26-year old is thrilled to be eventually involved.
"It's been pretty difficult but now (I'm) back in the mix and it's very exciting," he said.
"A little bit of hangover from the flu but apart from that I'm fighting fit and raring to go."
Vaughan Coveny, Tim Brown and Steven Old have all been named in the squad to face their former club while Kurri Kurri-born Richard Johnson, who has also played for the Jets, is been included too.
Considering the deficiencies of last week when the Central Coast Mariners beat them 3-0, the Phoenix are likely to include Brown in the starting 11 instead of him coming off the bench at Westpac Stadium.
Brown played seven times under Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond last season. His Phoenix appearance was delayed by hamstring and groin injuries.
The tenacious Johnson has also had his Phoenix league debut delayed by an achilles problem but has been an unused substitute in the past two games.
Herbert will be glad Old is available to add a bit of steel to a backline that struggled at times to retain the rampant Mariners last week.
After watching his side get repeatedly torn on the left side by the Mariners, Herbert has urged his players to be alert from the opening whistle.
"It's a huge game, last week it didn't quite go to plan and I know the boys are determined to get it right so I think we need to get out there for a good performance," Brown said.
"Everyone's on notice that it's a strong squad and that if you don't perform up to standard then there's potentially someone there to take your place. I think that it's a very, very healthy thing."
Brown said he's been desperate to be involved in the game.
"If you're not playing you're sort of removed from it. I've done that many sessions at Freyberg Pool and that many spin classes at Les Mills that sometimes you feel like you're being punished."
Newcastle's preparation has been hindered by their under-23s coach Graham Arnold calling up four Jets players for a training camp prior to Saturday's Olympic qualifier against North Korea in Sydney.
Arnold has Mark Bridge, Stuart Musialik, Jobe Wheelhouse and Troy Hearfield but Wheelhouse and Hearfield will be available to Van Egmond for Wellington.
The Jets are already without Andrew Durante (ankle injury) while marquee signing Mario Jardel has visa complications.
SQUADS
Wellington Phoenix: Jeremy Christie, Tony Lochhead, Cleberson, Karl Dodd, Tim Brown, Ross Aloisi (captain), Vaughan Coveny, Shane Smeltz, Michael Ferrante, Daniel, Richard Johnson, Steven Old, Steven O'Dor, Glen Moss (gk), Felipe Campos, Royce Brownlie, Jacob Spoonley (gk)
Newcastle Jets: Ante Covic (gk), Adam Griffiths, Jade North, Steve Eagleton, Jorge Drovandi, Matt Thompson, Joel Griffiths, Denni Rocha Dos Santos, Tarek Elrich, Paul Kohler, Adam D'Apuzzo, Jobe Wheelhouse, Scott Tunbridge, Troy Hearfield, Noel Spencer, Jason Hoffman, Ben McNamara (gk).
- NZPA
